The landscape around me is totally surreal.
As far as eye can see, it is a flat white plain. Some say you can actually see the curvature of the earth here.
This is the largest salt flat on earth. This is Salar de Uyuni. A place most of my aquaintences had never heard of.
Not so, the 300 – 500 other people here today. But this place is so vast, we all find our own desolate areas.
I come here, in part, because I like to visit the most iconic places on our planet. Earlier this week it was Lake Titicaca. Last week it was Machu Picchu (more on that another time.)
Many come here to get their perspective photos. Including the group I am in.
It reminds me how easy it is to have a distorted perspective. Even when we don’t try. Especially when we don’t try!
It happens when we live in a too-closed-in world. When we have a hard time seeing beyond ourselves, our circumstances, and our surroundings.
That’s another reason I travel.
On this trip I’ve encountered other Canadians, Americans, Germans, Scottish, Dutch, Irish, Australians, Swiss, Kiwis, Polish, Brazilians, Taiwanese, British, Chilean, Israeli, Syrian, Argentinian, Peruvian, and Bolivian.
And guess what! There are a lot of similarities. And a lot of differences. And a lot of unique perspectives.
It helps me gain an appreciation for others, reduces my natural biases and judgemental attitudes, and have a greater appreciation for our world’s diversity of both landscape and people.
And I think I’m a better person for it.
At least, that’s how I see it . . .
P.S. – I write this from my La Paz, Bolivia, hotel room.
